NADPH-Diaphorase-Reactive Neurons in Rat Basal Ganglia

Authors: GÜLGÜN KAYALIOĞLU, FİGEN GÖVSA, METE ERTÜRK

Abstract: NADPH-d reaction was performed on nine male Sprague-Dawley rats and morphometry of NADPH-d(+) cells was investigated in caudate-putamen, globus pallidus and ventral pallidum. In caudate-putamen we observed intensely stained NADPH-d (+) cells. Maximum diameter and minimum diameters of the NADPH-d (+) cells in caudate-putamen was measured as 19.19±0.04 \mum and 10.42±0.12 \mum, consequently. In globus pallidus, moderately stained NADPH-d (+) cells were observed. We measured the maximum and minimum diameters of the NADPH-d (+) cells as 19.93±0.24 \mum and 10.42±0.12 \mum, consequently. In ventral pallidum, medium-sized, moderately stained cells were present. Maximum and minimum diameters of the NADPH-d (+) cells in ventral pallidum was 19.19±0.04 \mum and 12.40±0.2 \mum, consequently. NADPH-d (+) cells in caudate-putamen, globus pallidus and ventral pallidum were mostly multipolar in shape. Basal ganglia have recently been suggested to have a role in nociceptive processing. Based on the role of nitric oxide in nociception and NADPH-d which is a form of nitric oxide synthase, the positive reaction in these nuclei is proposed to have a role in nociception in basal ganglia.

Keywords: caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, pallidum, NADPH-diaphorase.

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